“Show and Tell”: Cefalu, Sicily

Italy “Show and Tell” is a weekly series published on Sundays where invited guests share 6 of their favorite photos from their trip to Italy or life in Italy, along with a short description.

This week I’m excited to have Erica Firpo, a freelance writer based in Rome, share six of her favorite photos of Cefalu, one of my favorite places in Sicily.

6 Favorite Photos from Cefalu, Sicily

This past summer, my family and I decided to move to Cefalu. Darius and I had been there before but never more than as a spectator. This time, we wanted to live, breathe and eat as Cefalutani, so we packed up, grabbed the dog and kids, and dedicated August to living in Sicily.

1. Piazza del Duomo: The heart of the city, just off to the right is a granita stand (crushed ice with flavored syrups) that is considered one of the very best in Cefalu.

2. Brioche con gelato:  Fundamental to everyone who steps foot in Sicily. Essentially, the original ice cream sandwich. My flavor of choice: dark chocolate, and I always get extra panna (whipped cream). I have two gelaterie that i am particularly partial to– Gelateria del Duomo and Santa Lucia.

3. Beaches: There is something about Sicilian sunsets, especially on the northern coast. They melt the sky. Cefalu’s beaches are sandy with some rocks (the surrounding beaches are primarily all rocks). The water is warm and deliciously blue. In the summer, everyone stays on the beach until well after the sunsets, and then spends the evening in Cefalu.

4. Parco giochi: Il Brucco, Cefalu’s famous roller coaster. It doesn’t go fast but it is great amusement for children.

5. Highway: Sicily is an amazing backdrop for just about anything. I was forever photographing the natural vs manmade contradictions, and I was obsessed with “fichi d’india” (prickly pears) that grow every where.

6. Cefalu panorama at sunset: I could never get this shot right, but then again, I don’t think I wanted to. Cefalu is hard to capture in an image because it is a feeling– that kind of fuzzy warm hug full of love.

Thanks Erica for giving us a peek into life in Cefalu! For a closer peek into her Italy visit her on Instagram, and chat her up on Twitter.

Have you been to Cefalu? Share your experience with us in the comments below.